FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- Starting Jan. 1, TRICARE Select Group A retired beneficiaries must pay monthly enrollment fees in order to maintain their TRICARE health coverage. This is a change, and the first time this beneficiary group will pay enrollment fees.
“In 2021, some TRICARE beneficiaries will pay enrollment fees for the first time, a change mandated by Congress,” said Dr. Danita Hunter, director of the TRICARE Health Plan at the Defense Health Agency. “We’re communicating this well before the change is implemented so beneficiaries can be informed about the change, as well as their TRICARE plan and cost options.”
Here are the key points you need to know:
What’s happening?
Retired TRICARE Select beneficiaries will have to pay enrollment fees. This change was mandated by Congress in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2017. Congress granted the Defense Health Agency a delay in implementation until 2021.
Who’s impacted?
This change only affects Group A retirees and their eligible family members enrolled in TRICARE Select. People are in Group A if their initial enlistment or appointment, or that of their uniformed services sponsor, began before Jan. 1, 2018.
If applicable, what action is necessary?
Retirees must set up a monthly allotment through the Department of Defense pay center, where feasible, for monthly payments to start on Jan. 1. For sponsors who don’t receive funds through a DoD pay center, they can establish payments via electronic funds transfer, credit card, or debit card. Regional contractors will soon issue instructions to set up payment.
What are the 2021 enrollment fees for TRICARE Select Group A retirees?
The enrollment fees will be collected via monthly installments from the sponsor’s military pay system where retired pay is disbursed.
Individual plan: $12.50 per month
Family plan: $25 per month
Where is more information?
Visit the TRICARE Select Enrollment Fees page on the TRICARE website for updates and sign up for email alerts. TRICARE officials will provide specific instructions in the coming months. (Courtesy of TRICARE News)